“Oh there ain't no rest for the wicked,
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed
There ain't nothing in this world for free

Oh no, I can't slow down, I can't hold back,
Though you know, I wish I could
Oh no there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good. "

- "Ain't no rest for the Wicked", CD single
Cage the Elephant, Relentless Records

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BIBLICAL LIVING 101 - MONEY (Concept of)
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Last week we talked about HR & Payroll/Wages, this week we turn our sights to the topic of Money - what do we do with our wages!

We hope you will excuse our posting the lyrics to a modern rock song to begin our article in lieu of the usual scripture reference... we think it beautifully sums up the entire human angst about money! ? There is much truth outside the Master Reference (the Bible) as the Spirit inspires musicians and poets too ... so please think of this as ...sort of a.... modern psalm! Certainly the "psalmist" is making no bones about his situation here! Scripture references will be inline from here on...

Money doesn't grow on trees. True'er words were never said, and if you have been following along with us in our journey so far, we think it is even funny, as it harks back to the Fall and God telling Adam, His free ride on fruit from trees is over!

So, is money, like work, a result of the Fall? Does God not like money? What does the Biblical perspective on money look like?

BTW, we are NOT going to discuss tithing in this series - we have separate videos and articles on THAT topic - we are going to focus on a fuller understanding of the concept of money. We suggest you check out those posts/videos/articles for yourself from our Page or Web Site.

Some etymology before we begin.

The word for "money" in the Old Testament, is the same as the Hebrew word for Silver (H3701 Strong) "keseph - keh'-sef", (from a root meaning "pale color”, of silver, by implication money,price,silver.(403 occurrences in the KJV). The root word for "pale" is also interesting - It means to become Pale by reason of pining after, desiring, longing for, being greedy for!

In the NT, the word translated money is also derived from the word silver (Argentum, Ag is the Chemical symbol) - other words are “Argyrion"(money) - parables, general reference to money, "Ballantion"(money belt,wallet,purse) instructions to disciples to put money in their wallets, "chrema" (Acts 4:37-Ananias & Sapphira, and Simon Acts 8:18) , "kollybistes" (Money Changers),"chalkos" (money the disciples would put in their ballantion), "Philargyrios" (lovers of money 2 Tim 3:2).

There are three concepts to discuss. Money as an indicator of wealth/property, Money & the Covenant 3. Money & the atonement. 1 we are familiar with, but 2 & 3???!!! Lets take a look...

1. Money as a means of quantifying the amount of property/possessions & wealth, and helping to acquire more.

"And Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold." Genesis 13:2.

This is the VERY FIRST reference to the word for silver, "kehsef" translated money later on. Let's take careful note of the first time this word was used. The amount of Silver, Gold, and Cattle that was Abraham's LEGAL PROPERTY is in view here. If someone asks you, how rich/poor you are, you will answer that in reference to assets or liabilities that are legally owned by YOU! Well duh... but the reason we are belaboring this point is that we can pick up at some ideas from here..

a. Wealth is a combination of cash and kind (literally "kine" (!)) in this example. So your wealth is a sum total of not just cash, but also other assets.

b. For it to be "your wealth" you MUST have legal title to it. Something someone else owns, is not yours. e.g. a leased car does not BELONG to you. You are renting it from the leasing company, who are the ones who own the title. Your money has to be your money.

c. Money is also the means/medium of exchange by which you can "acquire" legal title to additional property. Abraham buys a field to bury himself in (still there today)

"And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver, which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant." Gen 23:16

The Genesis 23 text makes it clear that the price paid was 400 shekels of silver. Abraham "weighed out" 400 shekels worth of silver at the current rate with the merchants. For his silver/money, he got permanent title to the land where he and Sarah were to be buried.

We apologize if this seems to be belaboring the obvious, but the reason will become clear below...

2. Money & the Covenant

"And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.And he that is eight days old shall be circumcised among you, every man child in your generations, he that is born in the house, or --bought with money of any stranger--, which is not of thy seed.He that is born in thy house, and --he that is bought with thy money--, must needs be circumcised: and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant." Genesis 17:11-13

This is the SECOND reference to money, and uses the same word "kehsef" for the word translated as money here by the translators of the KJV- and we hope you can see that we can replace the word for money with the word silver, and still retain the same meaning. But that's not what is surprising here. It’s to whom we see the covenant extended!

People BOUGHT WITH the master's money, if they are circumcised, enjoy the same covenant relationship with God that their master does, even if they were foreign slaves! -------------He that is BORN IN THE HOUSE, or HE THAT IS BOUGHT WITH MONEY are both EQUAL------- in God's eyes as far as His Covenant promises are concerned!

What a foreshadowing of Christ's work to bring all the world into the tents of Shem, and entirely consistent with His plan to make Abrahams House a blessing to ALL NATIONS!!!!

By virtue of Christ's legal descent from Adam & Abraham, all He purchases is Gods'property as well! Now we see money/property in a totally different light... it was a God given, legal, means of extending Gods covenant promise in the OT to the nations to whom Israel would be a witness.

Money foreshadows the atonement it would seem, but is there a more direct relationship? Yes, indeed, there is.

3. Money & the Atonement.

In the OT you could not atone for your sins without money. Provision had to be made for a sacrifice. In the Law (Exodus/Deuteronomy) & Levitical offerings, we see God using money (cash and kind) in the following ways:

1. Sin/Trespass offerings. There were various degrees of animal required - bullock (for the head priest/king/congregation), kid (lamb/goat), birds or even grain (for the common & poor people - God made atonement accessible to the poorest) that needed to be procured to make atonement for the sins of the individual. We also have seen that 1/2 a shekel was levied on every male member of Israel as a yearly census (our post on taxes) to MAKE ATONEMENT for their souls.

2. Fines and levies. These were in proportion to the crime committed, and usually carried a tax ranging from 20% (1/5th of the value) to 300% (3 times what was lost/stolen).

3. Feasts and Festivals. People were allowed to convert their tithe into MONEY for PORTABILITY, and then use it there to convert the tithe back into food. The Bible and God, sees money as a convenience too!

"If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you,then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires: for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or --strong drink(!), or whatever your heart desires--; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household."(Dt 14:24–26).

Who says the Lord does not know how to show people a good time!

4. Charitable donations/Freewill offerings. You were allowed to bring God whatever you desired out of your free will, sometimes He would say what He needed (eg. making the Tabernacle) and people would voluntarily donate materials to that cause - this was money in KIND.

So God knows about, and uses money. Anything of value can be used as money, and based on its worth, it can traded/bartered/exchanged/sold to acquire items of similar value. He uses the legal framework of property to regulate not only the commercial practices of Israel, but also as a concept for us to understand His plan of redemption. God does have a plan to rest the wicked (us) ? !

We will look further at the concept of money next week, but we hope this has already given you some food for thought!

Hallelujah!